The herpes simplex virus is a sneaky little devil. Most of the time, it lies dormant in the nerve cells near your spine. The moment it notices that your immune defenses are down, it comes to life and makes a beeline for the skin’s surface surrounding your genitals. There, the virus forms clusters of painful, fluid-filled blisters that can hang around for two weeks or more. Each year, at least 500,000 people in the United States contract genital herpes. Once herpes moves in, it becomes a permanent guest. While a lucky 40 percent of people infected with this sexually transmitted disease (STD) never have another outbreak after their initial episodes, the not-so-lucky majority may have five or more recurrences a year.
Fortunately, you can keep this annoying virus in check by making a few significant adjustments to your lifestyle and diet. Daily exercise such as brisk walking, cycling, jogging, and stretching can melt away stress and fatigue, two of the most common triggers of recurrent outbreaks. Moreover, doctors say that if you eat more foods high in the amino acid lysine, such as chicken, fish, and vegetables, you can help keep the virus at arm’s length. They also say you should try to avoid fare such as chocolate, nuts, seeds, and gelatin, foods that are high in another amino acid, arginine.
In addition, a variety of nutritional supplements can give you extra protection. Certain herbs can relieve stress and strengthen your immune system. Some vitamins and minerals can alleviate the painful warning signs of an imminent outbreak, and others can reduce the number of recurrent infections, shorten the duration of the episodes, and speed the healing of lesions. Supplementing with lysine also can help keep the virus at bay.
Chill Out with Siberian Ginseng
One of the most common triggers of recurrent herpes outbreaks is physical and emotional stress. Too much stress weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to repeated infections. The less stressed you are, the fewer outbreaks you’ll experience, says Susan Kowalsky, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Norwich, Vermont.
Enter Siberian ginseng. This medicinal herb is most noted for its ability to protect your body from the negative effects of stress. Siberian ginseng is often referred to as a tonic for your adrenal glands—the glands that produce stress hormones—because it maintains their overall health. It’s an herb that can relieve stress and improve stamina without adverse side effects.
| A Gland’s Best Friend If you are plagued by recurrent genital herpes infections, chances are your thymus gland isn’t performing up to par. This gland is your immune system’s main headquarters, where virus-fighting white blood cells are activated. To improve the health of your thymus gland, you might consider taking supplements that contain a bovine thymus gland extract, says Thomas Kruzel, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Portland, Oregon. Available in most health food stores, these extracts are believed by naturopathic doctors to boost immunity and prevent the number and severity of recurrent herpes outbreaks. “There’s some evidence that taking glandular material from a certain animal will strengthen the corresponding human gland and the immune system’s response to the herpesvirus,” says Dr. Kruzel. “Your body will absorb the glandular molecules from the extract in a useful form, and they will be used as food for your own thymus gland,” says Susan Kowalsky, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Norwich, Vermont. Age, oxidation, and poor nutrition all contribute to the poor health of the thymus gland, she adds. Keeping this gland healthy will better equip your immune system to keep herpes outbreaks away. |
Dr. Kowalsky suggests taking 2,000 to 4,000 milligrams of Siberian ginseng three times a day. Everyone’s response to ginseng is different, so start off with the lower dosage and increase it over time. If you find that you’re experiencing irritability, nervousness, or insomnia at higher doses, cut back by at least half until you don’t experience any side effects, then gradually work back up over a few weeks, she says.
An Herbal Medicine Chest
Two other medicinal herbs that can inhibit outbreaks of the herpesvirus are echinacea and licorice.
Echinacea is a potent antiviral and antibacterial herb that strengthens your immune system by stimulating white blood cell production. It increases levels of a chemical in your body called properdin, which activates a certain part of your immune system that destroys viruses.
Moreover, echinacea raises levels of interferon, another immune system chemical that blocks the replication of herpesvirus proteins, says Dr. Kowalsky. So your outbreaks should be few and far between.
Take 500 milligrams of echinacea twice a day at the first sign of symptoms to help prevent an outbreak or to speed the healing of lesions if you’re already having a recurrence, says Thomas Kruzel, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Portland, Oregon. Continue taking this dose until symptoms and lesions disappear, he says. If you need to take it for more than eight weeks, however, talk to your doctor.
Similar to echinacea, licorice turbocharges your immune system and builds your resistance to the herpesvirus, says Dr. Kowalsky. Glycyrrhizin, one of the herb’s eight antiviral compounds, inhibits a number of processes involved in viral replication, such as the ability to penetrate healthy cells and reproduce their genetic material. What’s more, certain compounds in licorice boost interferon levels and make it especially hard for the herpesvirus to survive, she says.
Take 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of powdered licorice root in capsule form three times a day during an outbreak or when symptoms arise, says Dr. Kowalsky, but be sure to talk to your doctor if you’re taking these doses and especially if you are pregnant.
Boost Immunity with Vitamin C
Since the herpesvirus tends to resurface whenever your immunity is low, a vitamin that supports your immune system is a real ally in your battle with herpes. Vitamin C is such a vitamin. It can recharge your immune system by strengthening white blood cells that will fight off the virus. Vitamin C can also help speed healing—and the faster you heal, the less pain and discomfort you’ll experience from the lesions. According to Dr. Kowalsky, this vitamin can also prevent damage to healthy cells and boost interferon levels.
"It’s known that viruses deplete vitamin C residing in white blood cells, so we know that if you want your immune system to stay strong, you need to take extra vitamin C," says Dr. Kowalsky. To prevent herpes outbreaks, she recommends 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams daily in divided doses. She also suggests taking it with food to avoid stomach irritation.
If you’re having an outbreak, you’ll need to take even more. Dr. Kowalsky recommends 3,000 to 12,000 milligrams of vitamin C. Along with that, she recommends taking 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams of citrus bio flavonoids, compounds that may help fight inflammation, halt viruses, and control the oxidation process that can lead to premature aging of cells. Citrus bioflavonoids boost the absorption of vitamin C and shorten the duration of herpes outbreaks, according to Dr. Kowalsky.
Think Zinc for Relief
Like vitamin C, the mineral zinc can help rev up your immune system. Zinc helps boost production of T-lymphocyte cells, which are important body defenses against viral infections. "Zinc also disrupts the replication of the herpesvirus by blocking it from going into its reproductive cycle," says Dr. Kruzel. He recommends taking 15 to 30 milligrams of zinc daily to prevent outbreaks.
If you’re having a recurrence, take 30 to 45 milligrams daily until the lesions clear up, says Dr. Kowalsky. Don’t exceed 20 milligrams of zinc a day without first discussing it with your doctor.
A Trio of Infection-Fighting Nutrients
Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E all qualify as strong contenders in the fight against recurrent herpes infections.
Vitamin A arms your immune system with the ammunition it needs to battle the virus. It can alleviate symptoms of an impending outbreak and reduce the number of recurrences. Since doses of vitamin A above 10,000 international units (IU) are not usually recommended, a safer alternative is to take beta-carotene, according to Dr. Kowalsky. Beta-carotene is the anti oxidant that increases antibody production and white blood cell activity, and it converts to vitamin A in the body.
"Beta-carotene encourages new cell growth and strengthens your cells’ outer layers so that the virus can’t penetrate, duplicate itself, and spread like wildfire," says Dr. Kruzel.
When symptoms of a possible outbreak occur, take 100,000 IU of beta-carotene daily in divided doses to jump-start your immune system, says Dr. Kowalsky. Although you should also check with your doctor before taking this high daily dose, beta-carotene doesn’t pose the same risks as vitamin A.
Vitamin E also protects your white blood cells from invading viruses and strengthens other aspects of your immune system. It can help speed the healing of the lesions as well, says Dr. Kowalsky. She recommends taking 400 IU a day during an outbreak and continuing after the symptoms are alleviated.
The Lysine-Arginine Connection
Research shows that a diet high in lysine and low in arginine can prevent the herpesvirus from surfacing.
In one study, people with genital herpes took 1,000 milligrams of lysine daily for six months while eliminating arginine-rich foods from their diets. At the end of the study, lysine was rated effective or very effective at preventing herpes outbreaks in 74 percent of those who took it.
To keep lysine levels high, take 500 to 1,500 milligrams daily at the first sign of symptoms and continue until symptoms disappear, says Dr. Kruzel. If you’re having an outbreak, take 9,000 milligrams daily until the lesions go away and for four to five days afterward. Doctors caution, however, that you shouldn’t take this dosage for more than two weeks.
